On 6 July 2016, the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity, in collaboration with seven theological seminaries, conducted a day-conference on ‘Human Sexuality, Marriage and the Church’ at the St Andrew’s Cathedral.

This is the first time that so many seminaries and Bible colleges in Singapore have worked together to organise a conference for the Christian community.

The seminaries that participated in co-organising this conference are: Trinity Theological College, Singapore Bible College, Biblical Graduate School of Theology, East Asia School of Theology, Disciple training Centre, Baptist Theological Seminary and the Theological Centre for Asia.

The conference drew about 650 participants from different churches.

Dr Clement Chia (SBC) gave a talk on ‘Marriage and Family’, and Mr Quek Tze-Meng (BGST) discussed some of the chief passages in the Bible that deal with homosexual activity.

Rev Raymond Fong, a Methodist pastor, and Rev Peter Chan, a Presbyterian minister offered pastoral responses to Dr Chia’s and Mr Quek’s talks respectively.

After lunch, Dr Roland Chia (TTC) examined some of the more important scientific studies on homosexual orientation in the past twenty years, and Bishop Robert Solomon explored the ways Christians and the Church should respond to people who are struggling with their sexuality.

The conference ended with a spirited panel discussion.

Many who attended the conference found it to be very informative and helpful, and suggested that more such conferences should be organised for the Christian public.

By Dr Roland Chia